End of an Era: Colossus Roller Coaster Retires

Once the tallest and fastest roller coaster in the world, the Colossus at Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia, California, is being retired. The wooden coaster, built in 1978, stands 125 feet tall and whisks riders at more than 60 mph. It will take its last passengers on Saturday, which is National Roller Coaster Day, according to Six Flags.

The Colossus has since been eclipsed by the Goliath at Six Flags Great America in Gurnee, Illinois, which travels at up to 72 mph and has a 180-foot drop, the biggest of any wooden roller coaster in the world, according to David Lipnicky spokesman for American Coaster Enthusiasts. Currently, the tallest coaster in the world is the Kingda Ka, at Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson, New Jersey, which stands 456 feet tall. Traveling at speeds up to 128 mph, it's also the fastest coaster in North America, Lipnicky said. But a new record is in the making in Orlando, Florida. U.S. Thrill Rides and engineers at S&S Worldwide are building a more than 500 foot tall coaster called the Skyscraper at Skyplex, which is expected to open in 2016.